The wordes of Fortune to the people. ꝙ. Tho. Mo

MYne hyghe estate, power and auctoryte
If ye ne knewe, enserche an[…] ye shall spye
That rychesse, worshyp, welth, and dygnyte
Ioye, rest, and peace, and all thynge fynally
That any pleasure or profyte maye come by
To mannes comforte, ayde and sustenannce
[…] all at my deuyse, and ordynaunce.

Without my fauoure, there is no thynge wonne
[…]any a matter haue I brought at laste
To good conclusyon, that fondly was begonne
And many a purpose, bounden sure and faste
[…]th wyse […]rouysyon, I h[…]ue ouercaste
[…]thout good h[…]ppe, there may no wyt suffyse
Better is to be fortunate, than wyse.

And therfore hath there some men ben or thi[…]
[…]y deedly fooes, and wr[…]ten many a boke
[…]o my disprayse, and no oth[…]r cause th[…]re i[…]
[…]ut for me ly[…]t, not frendly on th[…]m loke
[…]hus lyke the fox they fare, that ones forsoke
[…]he pleasaunt grapes, and gan for to desy[…] them
[…]ycause he […]ept & […]ept, & coulde not come by thē,

But let them wryte, theyr labo[…] is in vayne
For well ye wot, myrth, honoure and […]ychesse
Better is than shame, penury and payne
The nedy wryteth, that lyngeryth in dystresse
without myne helpe, is euer comfortlesse
A wity b[…]rden odyouse and lothe
To all the world[…], and to hyms[…]lfe both.

But he that by my fauoure maye ascen[…]
To myghty power, and excellent degre
A cōmon wele to gouerne, […]nd defende
O in howe bless[…]d condycyon, standeth he
Hym selfe in honour and felycyte
And o[…]r that, m[…]y forther and encreace
An hol[…] regyon, in ioye[…]est and p[…]ace.

Now[…] in this poynt, t[…]ere is no more to saye
Eche man hath o[…] hym selfe the gouernaunce
Let eue[…]y wyght, than […]a[…]e his ow[…] waye
And he th[…]t out of pouert[…], and mys[…]haunce
Lyft for to l[…]ue[…] and wyll hym selfe enhaunce
In welth & rychesse, come […]orth and wayte on me
And he that wyll be a begger, let hym be.

Here Fineth Lady Fortune.